gnawing

American  

[naw-ing] / ˈnɔ ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that gnaws.

2. Usually gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs.

   the gnawings of hunger.

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Other Word Forms

• gnawingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of gnawing

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; gnaw, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Nothing prepared me for the gnawing unease of pivoting from saving to spending.

From The Wall Street Journal

And the thought that fills me with a gnawing sense of hope: is Mom serious about taking a trip, just the two of us?

From Literature

Evidence includes a hominin femur marked by clear signs of gnawing.

From Science Daily

By the time the old boneshaker finally took to the road, the empty plastic bag and bottle were at his feet, and he was gnawing the last clam off the stick.

From Literature

When the seat cushion was totally gone, the polar bear moved on to the handlebars, gnawing on them like a dog working a bone.

From Literature